Fence-post



(No Model.)

J. M. GOUGH & J. SPEAKMAN. FENCE POST.

No. 357,314. Patented Feb. 8, 1887.

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UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB M. GOUGH AND JOHN SPEAKMAN, OF NEW CASTLE, INDIANA.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 357,314, dated February 8,1887.

' Application filed October 15, 1886 .To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J AOOB M. GOUGH and JOHN SPEAKMAN, citizens of the United States, residing at New Castle, in the county of Henry and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fence- Posts, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to an improvement in fence-posts; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices,that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure lis an elevation of a fence post embodying our improvements. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same, taken on the line we: of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective View of one of the anchors.

' becoming detached from the post.

A represents the fence-post, which is made of malleable iron, and comprises the three radial strips or ribs B, having their inneredges joined together, as shown in Fig. 2, forming a Y in cross-section. This form of the post renders it exceedingly light and strong, and so rigid that it cannot be bent in any 'direc-- tion by any ordinary strain to which a fencepost is liable to be subjected.

. One of the strips or ribsof the post is provided with a series of open slots, C, which are arranged obliquely at an angle of about forty-five degrees, (45,) as shown. The fencewires are secured in the said open slots, and the outer ends of the latter are then closed by hammering,thereby preventing the wires from When it is desired to open the slots in order to release the wires, this may be accoinplished by means of a hammer and cold-chisel or wedge.

In order to prevent the posts from rusting and "corroding,we cover them with asphaltumpaint, thus rendering them impervious to water and moisture, and preserving them from the action of the elements.

D represents anchors, each of which ismade of a single piece of sheet metal of suitable length and width. The outer ends of the sheet are inclined downwardly and inwardly, as at E, and at the center of the sheet at its upper and lower edges are made vertical slits F, of a Serial No.21fi,348. (No model.)

ends of the said slits, and com municating with the same, are horizontal slits G, thereby forming tongues H. The said tongues are bent tongues, the latter bearing on the outer sides of two of the radial ribs or strips B. The outer ends of the sheet or plate,which project from opposite sides of the post, form wings I, which are adapted to be driven downwardly in a vertical direction into the ground.

, In order to set up a fence-post it is first driven into the ground for a suitable depth by a maul or mallet, and the anchor is then slipped over the upper end of the post and forced downwardly on the same until the lower edges of the wings of the anchor come in contact with the ground. The said anchor is then driven downwardly into the ground on the lower buried end of the post, thus securely bracing the same, and preventing it from becoming inclined or loosened in the ground,

When the fence-post forms a corner or gate post, two or more of the anchors previously described may be arranged thereon at an angle to each other and driven down into the ground, thus preventing the post from sagging in any direction.

When it is desired to take down the fence, the posts and the anchors may be readily drawn up out of the ground.

1 Wires, iron rods, wooden slats, or rails may be used for fencing in connection with our posts. or woven fences, or wooden pickets, can be secured in the slots in the fence-posts, and rails may be suspended from the same by wire loops, thus adapting the fence-posts to be used for any preferred kind of fence.

Having thus described our invention, we claim The combination of the fence-post having the radial ribs, and thereby forming a Y in cross-section, and the anchors made of sheet metal and adapted to be driven edgewise into the ground,the said anchors having the tongues H projecting from one side and arranged at suitable depth. Extending across the inner an angle corresponding to the angle formed by Wires or rods for supporting pickets two of the ribs of the post, to retain the latter between the inner sides of thetongues and the opposing side of the anchor, the said anchors being independent of each other and arranged 5 at an angle to each other on the post, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described. In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

' JACOB M. GOUGH.

JOHN SPEAKMAN. I Witnesses:

JOHN F. LUELLEN, i JOSEPH R. MULLER. 

